Multiple coiler



July 7, 1959 T. E. LEWIS, JR

MULTIPLE COILER 3 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Aug. 17, 1956 INVENTOR.

S m 0 1M .T/zomas E. Lewis 7.

July 7, 1959 'r. E. LE WI S, JR\

MULTiPL-E COILER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Filed Aug. 17, 1956 T." E. LEWIS, JR

July 1,1 59

MULTIPLE COIL-ER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1'7, 1956 ivy/pm VENTOR. Tim/Was E. 6tl/[ '5',Jr

gvilm ATTORNEYS United States Patent MULTIPLE COILER Thomas E. Lewis, Jr., Trumbull, Conn, assignor to The Coulter & McKenzie Machine Co., Inc., Bridgeport, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application August 17, 1956, Serial No. 604,677

6 Claims. (Cl. 242-433) This invention relates to a wire handling apparatus and more specifically to a wire feeding and coiling mechanism for packaging wire in a suitable container.

An object of this invention is to provide a means for handling the feeding and coiling operation of a wire making process in an eflicient, rapid and labor saving manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby a plurality of wire feeding and coiling operations can be carried on simultaneously at maximum efliciency in a minimum of operating space.

These and other advantages are accomplished according to this invention by a wire feeding and coiling apparatus comprising a common frame structure having mounted thereon a plurality of coiling stations which are adapted to be operated off a common drive means. According to this invention each station comprises guide means for guiding a wire emanating from a supply source about a rotary means which casts the wire in a coil and feeds the same into a suitable container secured on a rotatably mounted carrier or turntable located adjacent and below the rotary means, the rotary means and carrier means being connected in driving relationship for relative rotation therebetween- To facilitate removal of the containers as they become full, means are provided for selectively engaging and disengaging the driving connection between each of the carrier means and its respective rotary means, the driving connection being disengaged to cease the rotation of the carrier so that the container may be individually removed or changed therefrom as required without interrupting the feeding and coiling operations .at the other stations.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision whereby a plurality of individual feeding and coiling stations are tandemly mounted either in rows or banks of rows so that a maximum number of feeding and coiling operations can be performed in a minimum of space.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of vertically disposing the rotary means for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis so that wire looped therearound is fed from the top of the rotary means and into a container mounted for rotation about a substantially vertically disposed axis.

Another feature of this invention resides in an independently actuated selectable means for engaging and disengaging the carrier means in driving relationship with the rotary means to facilitate removal or change of a con- .tainer without interrupting the operation being carried on wire and feeding apparatus having portions thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through one of the feeding and coiling stations of the instant apparatus. p v Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the actuator means as viewed along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the feeding and coiling mechanism according to this invention comprises a frame structure 10 which is common to a plurality of wire feeding and coiling stations 11, each station including a guide means v12 for guiding a strand of wire W from a supply source (not shown) to a rotary means 13 which casts and feeds a wire into a suitable container C supported on a rotating carrier means 14 connected in driving relationship with the rotary means. According to this invention, any suitable number of stations or rows of stations may be arranged on the frame structure. However, it has been discovered that by arranging a plurality of stations tandemly in rows and banking a pair of rows in slightly staggered, back to back relationship on the common frame as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, maximum efficiency can be obtained in a minimum area.

The frame 10 supporting the rows of stations, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, includes a base 15 on which the carrier means of each station are supported. As best seen in Fig. 3, each carrier means 14 includes a turnable 16 connected to a vertically disposed spindle 17 mounted in suitable bearings 18 for rotatably supporting the turnable on the base for rotation about a vertical axis. A drive shaft 19 horizontally disposed and mounted in suitable end bear ings 20 is connected to the turntable 16 through a bevel gear21 connected to the turntable meshing with a bevel gear 22 connected to the shaft 19. As will be hereinafter described, the shaft 19 is connected in driving relationship with its respective rotary means 13 so that rotation of the latter imparts a relative rotative movement to the turntable 16 and container C supported thereon for receiving the Wire. To facilitate packaging of the wire, it will be noted that the container C is provided with a core 23 forming a space between it and the container sides into which the wire is coiled as the container is rotated.

Disposed between and separating the rows of carrier means 14 there is mounted on the base 15 a housing 24 consisting of a pair of vertically spaced side walls 25 and an enclosing top wall 26. Within the housing 24 there is mounted a supporting bracket 27 comprising a pair of elongate spaced plate members 28 or the like extending substantially the length of the housing and forms the means for supporting the rotary means 13 of each station as well as the main drive means 29 for simultaneously actuating the rotary means 13 of each row of stations as will be hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 3, the rotary means 13 of each station includes a capstan 30 having a peripheral groove 31 about which the wire W is looped for feeding the same into the container. A roller 32 carried by an arm 33 pivotally mounted on the housing 24 is urged into engagement with the wire looped on the capstan to press it into feeding relation therewith and to provide a cast in the wire to cause it to form coils as the wire is being fed into the container. A shaft 34 connected to the capstan 30 and mounted in suitable aligned bearings 35 in plate members 28 of the bracket supports the capstan for rotary movement in a substantially vertical plane adjacent the side of the container with its axis substantially at the top of the container as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown, the capstan 30 and turntable 16 of each station are connected in driving relationship so that a predetermine relative rotative movement is established therebetween. This is accomplished in the illustrated form ofith rent by c nnec g the. capstan. 3M0 the shaft 19 of the carrier means through a-chain or"be lt j6 .threadedov pera i g sprocke s orpul y fi' 5.99 nected to the capstan'30 and drive shaft 19 respectively. It will be JJQied that the driving, conne t on be eoe capst andits respec ive. carriermeans iseno osed-iw thi the housing by providing an opening -25a in the spaeed .wa1ls25 ofthe housi rv comm datin t e. n otis 30:: of the capstan to whichthe chain drive; 36 is connected. Thus, th ..l1azar of harinsan expo ed d v .conne on etwc n th ps and ca er is elimin t ,In the illustrated formof the invention a cpm non drive, is provided for actuating each row ofstations. As ,the capstandrive shafts 34 lie in a common horigontal plane, a pairof superimposed main drive shafts.29 a,' 29b are provided. According to this inyention the rrrain driye shafts. 29a, .295 are superimposed and are eguidistantly ,spaced above and below the capstan driveshafts 34, the maindrive shafts 29a, 29b being journaled in bearing plates39 connected between theplates 25 f theb'tacket 27. 7 By providing each ofthemain drive shafts vyith a plurality of spaciallydisposed worms 40,. equal to the number of stations in arow, and meshing thesame with every other worm gear 41 connected to the capstan drive shaft 3 it i e o dh ev y st t o i thero is in driving connection with its respectivedriving .sh f

..In order to provide the power to ,each of the ,main .drive. shafts a p rtmea c sa .o eotr w m Alorihe like, is utilized. A Sl 1OWj|1, th6 lIlQl.lS l Dg 24 is provided at each endat the top thereof with a pedestal 43 for supporting a motor, the motorshaftuv44beingcon- ,nected to its respectively driven main shaft by a belt 45 ,connectingcooperating pulleys 46 and 47. of motor shaft 414 and adjacentprojecting end portions of then ain driving shaft respectively in driving relationship.

,Referringto Fig. 1 it will be notedthat'the'wirejW emanating from a source of supply, such as aiurnace or enameling station or the like (notshown) is guided over a pair of master pulleys 48, 49 mounted on a bracket 50 adjacent an end portion of the frame, e ach master pulley having a plurality of grooves for handling aplurality of wirestrands sulricient for accommodating jthestations in a particular row. Thus, asthewire W is being fed, the same is taken of: the master pulleys 38, 49 by a guide pulley 12 located at each station in the row and then looped around the capstan.

According to this invention the wire W is looped about the capstan so that as the capstanis rotated, the w ire -W is fed into the container C from the top thereof. Feeding the wire into the container in this manner is found to be advantageous in that acontainerofgreater depth m y ou z o in asinait ove al height dimensions of the machine, i.e. thedistance between the turntable and the center of. the capstan. Also, a greater range of containers havingvarying .depths may be utilized. With the container C, as illustrated inFigs. land 2, secured on a carrier by means of a clamp "51 and rotated in the direction of the arrow; the wire leaving the top of the capstan'will travel a n1inimum distance as it passes to and .falls in coilsinto the container.

"With the Wire threaded ,over the master pulleys and guide pulleys and the main drive shafts in operafifitn, a

wire feeding and coiling operation may be. performed at each station simultaneously and automatically with a minimum of-personal attention on the part ofjhe operator. 'As a result, during. the normal operation of. the

instant device all that an operator is required to do is to remove the containersas they become full and substitute therefor an. empty container.

'" order t t perat n o t e cpt ro oworha of stations m y n t e .iot rr p edni rin .thetomo ascents;

of a container from any one of the stations, a selecting means 52 is provided whereby the coiling operation at any station may be interrupted without etfecting the coiling operation of the other stations. This is accomplished by including in the selecting means a clutch mechanism 53 for engaging and disengaging the carrier shaft 19 into and outEof driving relationship with the capstan 30. Thus, when the e lutchjs disengaged the rotation of the turntable will cease, thereby affording the operators-opportunity .to,release. the. clamp 51 and,.remove .the container C when'. full and substitute therefor an empty one as the operation at' the other stations is continuing. While the container isqbeing changed, the capstan will continue to feed the wire. However, as the containers are-quickly ichangedrthe operation is completed before an accumulation of wire is had. Thus, the operator simply gathers that portion of the wire which =-Wa fed, t e. .oonta n nw removed and d op the a o. 1. ho. ne soma ae Referring B 3. the. oluto io h ni mifit i c ude a: sta o v ea m mb s; in ,co ncret n i me vW o w ensasasodwhheaoh,m t some: sa

ri sh flfiio i ir n rcl t o sbm Withthe sarttaojfi accordin to, th ei Ysntion. t e .1. plr, i s We m mb r Pi/ lll a it Iis-i o lfltsdfi .arsdso d.norti9so 1th seas-t be tresl r'o ab or slipp'in'gly connected thereto. 'B ojecting outwardly ixomlhe ta eroiti n 8czihst of 't o i mem e '38 is n ti withl r o o osed. men es 5 Ib a rial rmorab o ther on ontn ronz t to i rda awa tromflssrr kot .Aas ow the an sfli af tho. .eollnSS i s it wi pr r q a th, un n e an inti n nss56i t en n .5-4-a d. 563 fles e ib he nse idista .d s o s ebo t he r s or the sh .9- lhuap h n t dmchnsmbo 5 s m v t v r memb r :3 and i to coo era n relat on hi therewith, the r c in 21 56 oftn sm .5 en a r ofmemberj38, thus loclging the shaft 19in driving relat on h v r t th artta Wh the hismP QSBI is mo ed wayfromth e pslsetor'v h member 38, the Pi s tand, 5.6 r l easage gassing?fliprockfls to be ireely rotated I on the shaft, thereby permitting the turntable to be stopped. I 11 11 order m facilitate the engagement andqdisengagement of "the elutch mechanism fatfyvill, anfactiiating means is' provided. As illustrated, theactfiatingnieans includes a split collar 57 connectedtotheaiiiallymovable clutch member 5 5. Connected to the split collar j57 is a; slide rod 58 for moving the clutch member into and out of engagement relative to h'sspiecket-ss."

As shownfthe means for op eratingthe slideirod 58 includes a foot pedal 59 pivotally mounted on a bracket '60 connected to the base 15 adjacent its respectivesta- :tion, the peda1 :59 having a camel forengagihg the'end -of the rod 58. Thus, as viewed in Figsi Bland 4, when the 'foot pedal 59 is kicked toward the frame as indicated by arrow a, the cam-61 engaging thefend-ofthe slide rod 58 causes the rod to njoye to the' righg-Fig. 3, against the action-of spring62 which normally maintains 'the-clutch member 55 in engaged driving relationship.

When this -occurs,.'the turnt'able of the particular station is disengaged from driving positiornandsceasesv to rotate,

.thereby -'af fording. .the .operatorsopportunitytto' stoplthe coiling operation at the particular station.

To .ma ntaimthe cl h disengag d .and automatically loo h usamosin disen a v n s t o hi he ope at p r o ms, the ass s o s inac ion. rthos amt l. snroride lihe r aeu h is rendered operative, the spring 62 biasing the clutch members into driving engagement.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the wire feeding and coiling operation can be performed at several stations under the supervision of a single operator. Not only does the apparatus of the instant invention reduce labor and handling to a minimum, but it also reduces the available space necessary for performing a plurality of feeding and coiling operations to a minimum. Consequently, enormous savings in cost can be had, which in turn is passed on to the consumers. Furthermore, the instant invention renders it possible to carry on the feeding and coiling operation in a more simple, expedient and efiicient manner than was heretofore possible.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A wire handling mechanism comprising a common frame having a bank of feeding and coiling stations tandemly mounted thereon, each station comprising means including a capstan rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis about which a strand of wire is adapted to be looped for feeding the same from a source of supply to a container and for applying a cast to the wire to cause the wire to form coils in the container, means for rotating the container receiving the wire about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said rotary means, said wire being adapted to be fed into the container from the top of the capstan, means connecting said capstan in driving relationship with its respective container rotating means, and drive means common to all of said stations for driving said capstan and its respective connected container rotating means at relative rotative speeds, said connecting means including means for independently connecting and disconnecting the container rotating means from driving relationship with its respective capstan to facilitate removal of a container without interrupting the operations of the other stations.

2. A wire feeding and coiling mechanism comprising a common frame having a plurality of stations whereat Wire emanating from a supply source is coiled into a container, each of said stations having means including a vertically disposed capstan about which the wire is looped for feeding the same and for applying a cast to the wire to cause the wire to form coils in the container, said capstan having a drive shaft for rotating said capstan in a substantially vertical plane, a substantially horizontal rotating carrier for rotatably supporting the container for receiving the wire mounted on said frame, said carrier being located below and adjacent the capstan so that the upper end of a container supported thereon is disposed adjacent the axis of rotation of the capstan and the container receives the wire from the top of the capstan, means for connecting said carrier in driving relationship with said capstan drive shaft, said connecting means including a carrier drive shaft and selecting means for selectively connecting said carrier drive shaft in and out of driving relationship with said capstan drive shaft so that said capstan and connected carrier are rendered operative at will to rotate at relative speeds, and

a main drive means common to all of said stations for driving the capstan drive shafts, said selecting means facilitating removal of a full container independently of interruption of the operations at the other stations.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said selecting means includes a member mounted on said carrier drive shaft connected in driving relationship with said capstan shaft, said member being mounted to rotate freely on said carrier shaft, a second cooperating member keyed to said shaft to rotate therewith and mounted thereon for longitudinal movement relative thereto, and actuating means for moving said second member into and out of engagement with said first member at will, said members having cooperating means to couple said members in driving relationship when said members are moved into driving relationship so that said carrier shaft is connected in driving relationship wth said capstan shaft.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said selecting means includes a member mounted on said carrier drive shaft connected in driving relationship with said capstan shaft, said member being mounted to rotate freely on said carrier shaft, a second cooperating member keyed to said shaft to rotate therewith and mounted thereon for longitudinal movement relative thereto, and actuating means for moving said second member into and out of engagement with said first member, each of said members having cooperating pins connected thereto to couple said members in driving relationship when said members are moved into driving relationship so that said carried shaft is connected in driving relationship with said capstan shaft.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said selecting means includes a first member mounted on said carrier drive shaft connected in driving relationship with said capstan shaft, said member being mounted to rotate freely on said carrier shaft, a second cooperating member keyed to said shaft to rotate therewith and mounted thereon for longitudinal movement relative thereto, and actuating means for moving said second member into and out of engagement with said first member, said actuating means including a spring normally biasing said second member into cooperating relationship with said first member, and an operating means for overcoming the spring action to disengage said members, said members having cooperating means to couple said members in driving relationship when said members are moved into driving relationship so that said carrier shaft is connected in driving relationship with said capstan shaft.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said operating means includes a slide rod connected to said second member and a manually operated cam actuator for moving said rod and connected second member to disengage said selecting means at will.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,992,430 Johnson Feb. 26, 1935 2,019,128 Furst Oct. 29, 1935 2,722,729 Wilhelm Nov. 8, 1955 

